Most of the blackouts that plagued California during its 2000-2001 energy crisis would have been avoided if power wholesalers had operated at capacity, according to a report released Tuesday by state power regulators.

The analysis by the California Public Utilities Commission ( news - web sites) and Portland-based McCullough Research found that all four Southern California blackouts and four of the seven Northern California blackouts occurred because power-plant operators produced less than they could have.

Commission President Loretta Lynch said the five largest non-utility electricity generators were not operating at maximum capacity on all but two of the 32 days during which the state saw either blackouts or cuts in service to customers that had agreed to give up power during electricity crises.

Calif.: Blackouts Weren't Necessary